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Branch Head, Musagetes Architecture Library

Department: Library - Musagetes Architecture Effective Date: May 2004
Grade: USG 12 Reports to: Manager, Branch Libraries Services

General Accountability

The incumbent, who reports to the Manager, Branch Library Services, is accountable to that Manager for ensuring the effective administration of the Architecture Library, an off-site branch of the University of Waterloo Library.   The incumbent ensures the appropriate care and handling of the rare and special materials held in the Architecture Library.  In so doing, s/he works closely with the Head, Special Collections, who is accountable for the management of Special Collections throughout the Library.

The incumbent is a member of the Library Managers group, and works closely with the Library Executive Committee and with other library managers and staff to address library issues and resolve problems.

The incumbent is a member of the Architecture Library Advisory Group and has been appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies and the University Librarian to be the chair for the first three-year term.

Nature and Scope

This position reports to the Manager, Branch Libraries Services.  Reporting to the Head are one Library Assistant and two Library Clerks.

The Architecture Library is a 13,000 sq ft unit within the School of Architecture building in the City of Cambridge, a 40 minute drive from the Waterloo campus.  The library supports the teaching, learning, and research needs of the members of the School of Architecture, which consists of 300 undergraduate students, 100 graduate students, and 19 faculty members.  Centrally located within the building, the library offers convenient access for architecture students and faculty. Its downtown Cambridge location facilitates collections use by members of the local community.   The incumbent commutes to the Waterloo campus for library business as required. 

The collection numbers 30,000 monographs, 5,000 rare books, subscriptions to 100 current periodicals plus bound volumes of past issues, and a developing product catalogue section.  Online databases, geospatial datasets, and other electronic resources on a wide variety of subjects are available through network access.

The Head is responsible for all administrative aspects of the School of Architecture Library including local policy formulation, collection management and maintenance, budget preparation and control, physical facilities planning, library user education, reference and circulation services, and the hiring, training, and supervision of staff. S/he serves as subject librarian for Architecture with responsibility for developing regular and rare book collections from the allocated library acquisitions budget and School of Architecture endowment funds.

The incumbent acts as liaison between the UW Library and the Director and faculty of the School of Architecture and develops and nurtures relationships to ensure effective collection development, instructional and reference services, and the integration of collections into the research and curricular programmes of the School. The Head is a member of the Architecture Library Advisory Group and participates in School Faculty meetings. The incumbent chairs/serves on other committees and task groups within and external to the UW Library including TUG (TriUniversity Group of Libraries), OCUL (Ontario Council of University Libraries), the School of Architecture, and the University, as appointed.

Statistical Data

Specific Accountabilities

  1. Ensures the effective operation of the Architecture Library through management of staff and resources, both physical and financial, and through sound library planning, in consultation with patrons, the Architecture Library Advisory Group, and other library managers and staff as appropriate.
  2. Establishes in consultation with the Manager, Branch Library Services, goals and objectives for the Architecture Library and regularly evaluates their achievement.
  3. Develops and maintains the Architecture Collection Development Policy and Approval Plan profiles in accordance with the School’s programmes and curriculum
  4. Acquires, manages, and maintains a strong academic collection of architecture resources guided by the Architecture Collection Development Policy and knowledge of user research needs and priorities. Works with faculty to integrate the use of the collection into course assignments and research
  5. Develops and expands the Rare and Special Materials collection, using School of Architecture endowment funds, in consultation with faculty.
  6. Works closely with the Head, Special Collections, to ensure the appropriate security, cataloguing, care, handling, use and display of rare and special materials in the Architecture Library.  Ensures that staff and patrons adhere to existing library policies and procedures which relate to rare and special materials.
  7. Acquires, organizes, and catalogues product catalogues/brochures using Masterformat. Organizes and catalogues the collection of building plans, videos, and other acquired ephemera not catalogued by the main campus library
  8. Provides reference service in person, by telephone, electronic mail, correspondence, and via Chat Reference software.
  9. Develops and delivers library orientation and instruction workshops; creates print and electronic pathfinders and research guides; oversees the creation and maintenance of the Architecture Library’s web pages.
  10. Promotes and publicizes the Architecture Library’s policies, services, and resources; identifies and responds to the needs of library patrons via direct feedback and the Architecture Library Advisory Group.
  11. Chairs the Architecture Library Advisory Group for the first three-year term,  facilitating the preparation of the Library’s annual report and operating budget request and bringing forward library issues for discussion or resolution.
  12. Keeps current with new services and practices or technological developments and contributes to discussions on library planning, policy development, and problem resolution through membership in the Library Managers Group and other library committees and task groups.
  13. Enhances personal and professional knowledge and abilities through courses and workshops and by membership and participation in relevant professional organizations.
  14. To undertake other responsibilities as assigned.

Working Conditions